Round 2 of the Sam Maguire throws in this weekend, as the sides hope to put themselves in a great spot to secure promotion ahead of the final weekend.
Below is a run down of all the different groups and how they will work in terms of where the teams can finish, live score updates from all ties can be found here.
GROUP 1
Cork v Kerry, Saturday June 3rd, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 3pm
Defending All Ireland Champions Kerry will look for their first win as they travel to meet their old foes Cork.
Cork played out a classic with Louth in Round 1 to win their first game and will have confidence of beating their neighbours and biggest rivals, but their defence was tested numerous times last weekend in Navan.
They need a more solid performance but have been forced into changes from the last day, Rory Maguire and Kevin O’Donovan replacing the injured Sean Meehan and Tommy Walsh, Brian Hurley is their main weapon as shown last weekend, Kerry will have to keep him quiet.
Same in the other camp can be said about David Clifford, as he was top scorer in Killarney two weeks ago, as Kerry were below par against Mayo in their opening tie of the competition, their defence was weak too and they welcome back Paul Murphy in the half back line, he makes his first start for Kerry since their Munster semi-final win over Tipperary.
Killian Spillane is the second change as he moved to wing forward, with Paudie Clifford moving to corner forward, Dylan Casey and Tony Brosnan dropping to the bench as a result, Kerry needing to pull off a better showing after some big criticism last time out.
Mayo v Louth, Sunday, June 4th, Hastings MacHale Park, 2pm
Mayo will hope to make it two wins from two as they welcome Louth to Castlebar.
The Westerners were a strong side in their win over Kerry, playing with no fear they really said to everyone they are here to play and a win here would put them in the driving seat to top the group.
They made three changes for Sunday’s clash, Eoghan McLaughlin is ruled out with a hand injury, Paddy Durcan starts in place of Padraig O’Hora, while Fionn McDonagh comes in for Jason Doherty.
Louth will feel hard done they never got something from the tie in Navan last weekend, they were spirited and Sam Mulory is a forward who can bag scores and looks a big impact for them, a late change last week saw Bevan Buffy replace Connor Grimes, they reverse that change in their sole difference to the team as Grimes starts in the half forward line.
GROUP 2
Westmeath v Galway, Saturday June 3rd, TEG Cusack Park, 5pm
Galway look in good form to finish top of their group but need a strong result over Westmeath to show what they can do.
Weestmeath were unlucky to lose against Armagh in Round 1 having controlled a lot of the tie, they slumped to a narrow one point defeat, they do look strong and with their first performance they can build from that can go the next step. One change for them as Ronan Wallace replaces Senan Baker.
Galway were strong in defeating Tyrone in Round 1, but make two changes, Cian Hernon makes his championship debut at right wing-back in place of the injured Dylan McHugh while Rob Finnerty replaces John Maher.
Tyrone v Armagh, Saturday June 4th, O’Neills Healy Park, 7pm
Tyrone look for their first win of the group stages hosting an Armagh side hoping to make strides.
Should the 2021 winners hope to secure qualification from the group stages, they need a win this evening on home soil to keep their hopes up, when they last met in the league it was Tyrone who prevailed.
Niall Sludden returns to the Tyrone team in place of Frank Burns who was sent off against Galway, they need a more solid performance than what we saw that evening out West as they could not catch their opponents.
Armagh won by a single point against a game Westmeath last weekend, the beaten Ulster finalists got their campaign off to the ideal start but now hope to topple Tyrone, they make two changes with Callum Cumiskey and Conor Turbitt coming in for James Morgan and Aidan Nugent respectively.
GROUP 3
Kildare v Dublin, Saturday June 3rd, UPMC Nowlan Park, 5pm
For the third time this year, Dublin meet Kildare hoping for their first win in the group stages, as Kildare look to produce a shock in Nolan Park.
Having already met twice this year, the Dubs came out on top on both occasions by the narrowest of margins, in the League and in the Leinster semi-final, against Roscommon they coughed up an added time score to only leave with a point, they are in danger if they cannot get a positive result here of not qualifying.
Jack McCaffrey remains sidelined for them, while David Byrne also looks to be out, as he picked up a knock the last day, Cian Murphy starts in his place.
Kildare have named the same team that drew with Sligo as they look to topple their neighbours for the first time this year on the third time of asking. It has been a close battle between these two this tear, but Kildare have not had the best form and need something from this game.
Roscommon v Sligo, Sunday June 4th, Dr Hyde Park, 3pm
The other teams in the group with a point to their names, the Connacht neighbours hope to push on and put their names into the hat for the top group spot.
Roscommon were a class act against Dublin and look a strong contender as they always do, they now hope to make a real crack at Sam Maguire, having missed a league and provincial final.
One change for them as Conor Daly replaces Donie Smith, that sees Dylan Ruane moving from wing-back to midfield and Enda Smith moving from midfield to centre-forward, the Rossies can be dynamic in all areas of the park and will hope to take scores when they come.
Sligo slumped to a 14 point loss to Galway in Connacht, who beat Roscommon by four points at the semi final stages, if that is anything to go by, a well versed Roscmmon will prove trouble,
Sligo make two changes to the team that drew with Kildare in Round 1, both in attack, as Pat Spillane and Keelan Cawley come in for Alan Reilly and Darragh Cummins, this game will really be a test for them.
GROUP 4
Monaghan v Clare, Sunday June 4th, Clones, 2pm
Both Monaghan and Clare try to get a first win in this Group, with Monagahn hoping to add to their sole point from their last outing.
They drew with Ulster rivals Derry 0-14 a piece in their opening group game, they did look strong in that game as both looked a real match, they welcome back Jack McCarron to their attack in place of Dessie Ward, that might add a new dynamic to their side.
Clare meanwhile go with the same team from the loss to Donegal, they were left disappointed with their second-half showing in Ennis after dominating the first half, they have shown their resilience but this season has been tough for the Banner to build on form.
Donegal v Derry, Sunday June 4th, Ballybofey, 4pm
Donegal hope to pick up their second win in Group 4, but face a tough Derry side who have ambitions of making it out of the group.
Donegal were solid against Clare and deserved the win as they got going in the second half in a slow burner of a contest, a big boost for them has Paddy McBrearty, returning to their panel for the first time in four mouths, two changes for them with Caolan McColgan coming in for John Ross Molloy and Jason McGee replacing Rory O’Donnell at midfield.
Derry make no change to the team who drew with Monaghan in Round 1, the Ulster champions need a win this weekend if they want to keep the ambition of making the next stage, it was a dramatic tie with Monaghan but they need to be more convincing against Donegal.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.